Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-06-25
The HIGH SCHOOL SERIES

serIes OF essays delivered by the gradu-
ates of the YaDkton high school at the
recent commencement exercises. Miss
A. Marie Wenziaf is the author:
A PLEA FOR. FANATICS.
La the history OF the civilization we
observe two great influences at work
shaping its oharacter-conserystism and
a desire for 8 change.
The first one is necessary to the ex.
~lstence of o nation and the second, to
ats progress. For while one part OF hu-
manity clIngs to the existing condition of
Things and opposes ell changes, another
part must make more than usual ex.
ertion in order to counteract this conser.
yatism. II there be any advancement, or
this latter class, are the fanatics of ali
ages. They are accused of being one
sided and overdrewn In their opinions
to have gone SO far beyond, the limits OF
reason as to border upon INSANITY, to
have such an overwhelming impression
OF some things as to disqualify them for
the duties of life. Though progress of
every kind and the welfare of every
country rests for the most part upon
just such men, the conservative and
ignorant, regarding their theories as
dreams and unsafe to trust, attempt to
root them out.
In early times they were starved.
|~smothered, burned at the stake. or
tortured in the most cruel amer that
could be devised.
To-day civilization has so far advanced,
chiefly becarse OF the worth and precepts
OF these men, that no one is allowed TO
endure physical torture on account of
his zeal.
Many men have died in shame and hu.
initiation for the sake of truth who are
now universally lauded as great bene-
factors OF the race.
No n perhaps IS entirely free from
fanaticiem, Notwithstanding when a ma
exhibits extraordinary s%ingleness of pur-
pose and determination to carry through
what he thinks is right, should 1t happen
to differ with generally accepted notions,
hs ls looked upon with considerable
suspicion to say the least.
There are more religious fanatics than
any other. And should we wonder
why? LIS there not q greater demapd for
these !? Surely mankind has never been,
and 10 lar from being perfect, and can
not expect, to be, until it shall have q
right conception of true religion.
The very one who taught the true re-
|ligion, was called q fanatic, and suffered
much in its behalf. Even the few who
Believed what he taught, did not re-
alizs the infinite and everlasting good he
Was doing. Now, the great majority OF
the'most enlightened nations of the world
are followers Of this same teacher,
Christ.
LIZ is true that many things which
Christ taught were given to the world
long before, for instance, the teachings
OF Socrates, who bent his entire energies
toward bettering mankind.
But SOCRATES WAS made to drink q cur
OF deadly poison, and Christ was cruci-
fed. And why ? Because, as the world
said, they were fanatics.
Long after the death of Socrates, long
after the time of Christ, when church
affairs were being more and more in.
vowed IN corruption, and ohristianitS
existed merely in name, there arose
several men, who by upholding and de
tending bravely their peculiar views
have rendered their m Immortal.
One OF these was John Huss, q fanatic
OF bohemia, who declared that the
ohuEch and state should be separated
and thai every one was free to worship
God according to the dictates of his owr
conscience. He was burned at the stake
as q hereto, and SO were thousands Of his
followers, for it was feared they wculo
eventually overthrow the supremacy o.
the pope, who now ruled church anc
state.
Amid this tumult and danger
there appeared the most remarkable
fanatic of later times, q man witt
changed the whole drift of religion,
Thought and made the high civilization
OF to-day possible. This was Martin
Luther, who openly opposed the pope
and church by that fanaticai act of nail
ing BIS ninety theses on the door of the
Wittenbeig church.
Though truth had totteTed and seemed
to be crushed beneath the mighty foo
OF tyranny and w~ickedness, it appeared
again at the most unexpected moment
stronger than before. as is ever the case
For
Truth crushed to earth shall: rise again.
The eternal years Of God are hers.0
Our Puritan f%orefathers We're called
fanatics because they left country anc
home and came TO this, then desolat.
and savage land for the sake of liberty
But would America be what she is to.
day, a free nation, had it not been TO,
this fanatical act?
When any reform is urged upon a ne
ton or people, the opposing party class,
es those that uphold the cause with
fanatics.
This wal the case in the late rebellion
William Lloyd Garrison and Wendell.
Phillips the chief agitators of the slavery
| question, were considered the greatest
fanatics living Lincoln was regarded
as q very dangerous fanatic, by enc hal!
OF our country.
To-day we are apt to forget how many
men were prosecuted and called fana-
tics in times gone by, but who now are
regarded as the worlds greatest bene.
factors.
or such was Calico, Fulton, Stephen,
son, Morse, Howe and q whole host o.
others.
Ali will admit that these men although
called fanatics by those in their own age
have done more than any other class tc
make the world what it is tc day. That
to such men civilization is indebted fol
its present advancement.
or course not all men are uniustly
called fanatics, FOR such beings SURELY
exist. But have not even they brought
ab1ut good2 Forif nothing new is st
tempted or thought OF, how can there BIZ
progress?
Then sgain, men learn to accomplish
things as much by the failures of Others
as by their successes. The crusader,
were fanatics Of the first order, but they
brought the most wonderful as we'll al
beneficial changes into Europe. Out u
these crnsades very probably resulted
the discovery OF America by Columbus
The agitators of Temperance were
looked upon for q long time as fanatics
| and are even now by some. But il this